Public in Ottawa gets 12 hours to visit Layton's body as he lies in state

Postmedia News08.22.2011

Flowers are left in tribute for former Canadian opposition leader Jack Layton in front of the Parliament building on August 23, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Monday he regrets that he never "jammed" with his friend and longtime rival, opposition leader Jack Layton, who died overnight of cancer at age 61. "Now, as you know, Jack was a musician. He was quite a natural one at that," Harper said outside the House of Commons. Jack Layton, whose popularity and political skill helped his New Democrats surge past the Liberals to become Canada's official opposition party. Layton died August 22 of cancer. He was 61.

Jack Layton's casket is expected to leave Toronto in a hearse, and with a police escort, at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning and arrive on Parliament Hill in Ottawa at 10:25 a.m.

RCMP officers will act as pallbearers as the casket is removed from the hearse and the Peace Tower bells toll 15 times.

The closed casket will be laid in the foyer, right outside the House of Commons chamber, where officials and Layton's family will have about 90 minutes to grieve privately.

Afterwards, members of the public will be allowed to enter Centre Block through the main entrance, sign condolence books in the main lobby, then make their ways down the hall to pay their respects to the felled NDP leader.

Public visitation hours are from 12:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday, and from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Five House guards will keep vigil with Layton's body the entire time it rests in Ottawa, with one at either corner of the casket, which will be draped with a Canadian flag, and another at the side.

When Layton's body leaves Parliament Hill for the last time on Thursday, RCMP officers will once again act as pallbearers and transport the casket to the hearse as Layton receives a 15-gun salute, and the Peace Tower bells play O Canada.

A funeral-home employee will drive the casket back to Toronto, where there will be a full state funeral Saturday at 2 p.m.

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Public in Ottawa gets 12 hours to visit Layton's body as he lies in state